Supporting structure



March 23, 1937. w -1 v MASQNER 2,074,660`

SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 7; 1934 sheets-sheet 1 1f lgf'i l ,NIMH',lu I lImi] A 12 M Willy l||| lll ,1* M

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March 23, 1937. w.'.j. MAsoNER 2,074,660

i SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Filed Nov. f7, 1954 2 sheets-sheet' 2 mxlamammwPatented Mar. 23, 1937 PATENT OFFICE` f SUPPORTING STRUCTURE A WilliamJ. Masoner, Chicago, Ill.

ApplicationNovember 7, 1934, Serial No. 751,820

4 Claims.

"This invention relates'to a new and improved supporting structure andmore particularly toa structure for supporting apparatus hung from aceiling or from cross joists of a building.

" It hasfbeen found desirable in many instances to support heavystructures from the ceilings of buildings, such structures for example,as heating and Ventilating apparatus. Such apparatus may comprise unitheaters, radiators, blowers or the like".-`V While my improvedsupporting structure will support apparatus of this character it will"be understood that the invention is independent ofthe particular formof apparatus which it is tolsupilort. l i

Ajnumber of `methods have been used heretofore to supportv apparatus ofthis character in rooms or areas to be heated. In general such `methodsinclude the use of'comparatively heavy supporting timber which arebolted to ceiling beams or secured to the beams by hooks which arehooked over the ceiling beams. These structures generally are unsightlyand do not admit of adjustment of the location of the supportedapparatus. ^In many cases after the apparatus, such as a unit heater,has been suspended from the fceiling it will be found that the angle atwhich itis placed does not properly distribute or direct the-heat. Withusual types of suspensions it is necessary to take down the supportingstructure t change the position of the heater. This causes l additionalinjury to the ceiling in finished rooms and also requires additionallabor expense.

` Itis an object of the present invention to provide a new and improvedsupporting structure for suspending apparatus from ceiling beams or thelike.

It is an additional object to provide a structure E in standard formwhich is adapted for use with f different spacings and sizes ofsupporting beams and with different sizes of apparatus to'be suplported. `It is also an object to provide a device which `mayrbe quicklyinstalled and which results in a minimum of injury `to a ceiling.

It is a further object to provide a device which is capable ofadjustment of the supported structure without movement of the structuresecured apparatus while it is being secured to the permanent supportingstructure.

It is a further object to provide a device which is simple in design,composed of but few parts, and adapted for commercial production andinstallation. l Y v Other and further objects will appear as thedescription proceeds.

I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention in the accompanyingdrawings in whichi Figure l is an elevation showing my improved devicesupporting a heater or the like;

FigureZ is a horizontal section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1; I

Figure 3 is a cross section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section on an enlarged scale, taken on line 4--4 of Figure2;

Figure 5 is a section on an enlarged scale,r taken on line 5--5 ofFigure 2; and

Figure 6 is a section on an enlarged scale, taken on line 6-6 of Figure2.

In thedrawings, the joists I I support a ceiling construction I2, whichmay consist of lath and' :i

plaster, metal wall board or other material. The hanger hooks I3 havehooked ends extending over the topsof the joists and have threaded lowerends on which are placed the nuts It, supporting heavy washers I5. Thewashers I5 support the" spaced UA bars I6 which are spaced by thetubular members I1 which t on the tie bolts I8. This assembly of U bars,spacing members and tie bolts comprises the upper or iixed frame whichis supported and positively secured to the ceilingA by the hanger hooksI3.

v`The tie plate I9 extends across between the lower legs of the U barsI6 and supports the bolt 20, which in turn supports the lower tie plate2|. This lower tie plate 2l fits Yunder the. Aupper legs of the U bars22, which, with the spacers 23 and tie bolts 24, form the lower ormovable frame. I

The lower legs of the U bars 22 support the floor flanges 25 into whichare threaded the upper ends of the pipe hangers 26. As shown in Figure1, the lower ends of the pipe hangers 26 are connected by couplings 21to the upper endsV of the support pipes 28 of the unit heater 29.

The canopy 30 is designed to cover both the upper and lower framesregardless of their relative angular position. The canopy is supportedby and moves with the lower or movable frame. As shown in Figure 2 thecanopy is an elongated Octagon but it may obviously be made in othershapes if desired. It must have a width greater than the upper or xedframe and a length greater than the lower or movable frame. It is formedwith sides 3| which engage the ceiling I2. The angle members 32 aresecured to the inner face of the canopy 30, as shown in Figures 1 and 2,by spot welding or in any other desired manner. The strap 33 passes overthe lower frame and is secured to the angles 32 by the bolts 34.Openings 35 are formed in the sides 3| of the canopy 30 so that thebolts 34 may be adjusted to tighten the strap 33 and bring the edges ofthe sides 3| of the canopy tightly against the ceiling |2. K

As shown in Figure 2, the canopy 30 may have two sets of spaced openings36 and 3]. As shown in the drawings, the pipe hangers r26 pass throughthe outer set of openings 31. The swinging cover plates 38 are formed inpairs and are sodisposedl as to cover the unused openings. These plates38 are pivoted on screws or bolts 39 and may be readily removed andreversed in position if the other pair of openings 36 is tobe used. Itwill be apparent that the floor flanges 25 may be slid back and forth asdesired, and thus the supporti ing structure and canopy shown may beused for two standard spacings of pipe hangers v2|i in connection withtwo standard sizes of space heaters or the like. The lock nuts v4|]engage the `undersides of the cover plates 38 and assist in supportingthe canopy 30.

It is believed that the method of assembling and using the supportingdevice will be apparent from the drawings and the description. Thehanger hooks |3 are used where it is practical to have the hooks passover the upper side of the supporting beams, butit will .be understoodthat other usual types of securing means may be substituted. Where thebeams carry a oor upon their upper sides, the hooks maypass through thebeams, or screws or other standard securing and supporting membersmay besubstituted for Y hooks. It will be apparent that these supporting meansmay be spaced at any desired distance apart within the limits ofthelengthof the upper supporting frame. Consequently, the device may besupported from beams of any spacing within that limit. Obviously alsothe upper and lower supporting frames may be made of any size tocorrespond to any beam spacing and any necessary spacing of supportingmembers.

The upper supporting frame is preferably placed at right angles to theline of direction of the beams and in order to secure it in place it isonly necessary to make holes through lthe plaster angle with theupperframe and Vclamped firmly rin place by tightening up the bolt 20.

If a canopy is to be used, the canopy is slipped upwardlyover the pipehangers 26 and the lock n uts 31 screwed up to hold the canopy in place.The strap 33 is placed over the lower supporting frame and may betightened up by the screws 32 so as to bring the edges of the canopyrmly against the ceiling. In case it is desired to change the angularadjustment of the lower frame relative to the upper frame, the ,canopymay be readily dropped down soA that the bolt 20 may be loosened. It maybe possible also to swing the lower frame without loosening this bolt,as sufcient leverage is afforded by Athe widely spaced pipe hangers 26Vso that the frictional grip of the washers |9 and 2| may be overcomewithout loosening the bolt 2|).

The various parts may be made in different sizes to suit differentweights and shapes of apparatus to be supported and I contemplate such`.changes and modifications as come within the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. Supporting .apparatus comprising elongated upper and lower framemembers, each frame comprising spaced inwardly facing `U-.shapedmembersheld in place by spacing connecting members, means .adjustablyconnecting the two members, connecting means having portions slidablebetween the U-shaped members of .the upper frame and having upwardlyextending portions for connecting .the upper frame .to a

supporting structure, and means for connecting a `device to be supportedto thelower frame.

2. Supporting apparatus comprising elongated upper and lower framemembers, each Aframe comprising spaced inwardly facing U-shaped membersheld in place by spacing connecting members, means adjustably connectingthe .two members, connecting means lhaving portionsslldable between theU-shaped .members of the upper frame and' having upwardly extendingportions for connecting the upper frame to a Ysupporting structure, andsupporting means having portions slidable between the U-shaped membersof the lower frame and having downwardly' extending portions forsupporting a device below the lower frame.

.3. In combination with supporting apparatus comprising relativelymovable upper andlower frames, means adjustably connecting the' twomembers, means for securing the upper 'frame `to ceiling .beams ortheilike, a. canopy for covering said frames, means connected to the.canopy and passing over the lower frame for securing the canopy to thelower frame and urging the edges of the canopy toward the ceiling beamsor the like.

4. In combination with supporting apparatus, comprising relativelymovable upper and lower frames, means adjustably connecting said frames,a canopy for covering said frames, means for securing the canopy to thelower frame, supporting members extending downwardly from the lowerframe, a pluralityof spaced openings in the canopy, certain of saidyopenings serving Vto permit passage of the supporting means,and'adjustable means for closing `theopenings not used bythe'supporting'means.

WILLIAM J .'MASONER.

Lil

